The European Union and its
neighbours

A Eurobarometer Special Report on the European
Neighbourhood Policy shows that Europeans believe that encouraging and
supporting reforms in neighbouring countries will bring benefits for the
EU’s neighbours in terms of economic and social development as well as
good governance. They also expect that promoting stability and a favourable
economic environment, as well as the mutual opening of markets, will contribute
to prosperity within the EU. They see overall benefits to cooperation with
neighbours, particularly working together to tackle mutual challenges such as
security (tackling terrorism and organised crime), environmental protection,
energy and migration.

EU citizens tend to have a positive perception of relations with
neighbouring countries (68%) and to believe that cooperation with these
countries will bring mutual benefits. EU citizens consider cooperation with
neighbouring countries important: in fighting organised crime (90%) and
terrorism (90%), in economic development (88%), energy matters (87%),
environment (87%), democracy (87%), education and training (83%), research and
innovation (78%) and immigration (77%).

On the highly topical issue of migration, nearly two thirds of respondents
(64%) believe that close cooperation with neighbouring countries will reduce
illegal immigration into the EU.

The vast majority consider that EU assistance to neighbouring
countries can help to extend peace (70%) and democracy (77%) beyond the borders
of the Union. There are, however, concerns (45%) that their own country’s
peace and stability could be endangered by promoting reforms in neighbouring
countries.

A majority of those questioned felt that economic cooperation with the
neighbours would increase mutual prosperity (61%) and open new markets for both
parties (75% for the EU and 64% for neighbouring countries). This is in spite
of the fact that many (81%) had concerns about the potential financial costs of
supporting reforms in Europe’s neighbourhood.

Most respondents (52%) feel that countries are willing to cooperate to
reform, though a majority (64%) also feels that the EU should reduce its
relations with a country if it shows no willingness to make progress on
reforms.